Matt Bloomfield knows Luton haven’t “cracked everything” after his long-awaited first win as manager, but believes it will give Town the belief to attack a crucial block of fixtures in their fight for Championship survival.
Town face perhaps the toughest of them all this Saturday with a trip to Burnley’s so far impenetrable Turf Moor, where they’ve not lost and not even conceded in their last six outings.
But the Hatters will travel to Lancashire in better spirits after hauling themselves off the bottom of the Championship with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth on Saturday, where Bloomfield finally got to experience Kenilworth Road in full voice.
“The songs they were singing at the end and the noise they were making, I think they do believe [relegation can be avoided]. I absolutely believe, in our supporters,” said the manager.
“I’ve really understood their frustrations in the last few weeks. I get it, I understand it. They are passionate. They’re very knowledgeable and they spend a lot of money and time following their football club, and we’ve not given them enough to cheer and celebrate.
“It really felt like a big moment at the end and we have to use that. We haven’t cracked everything in one day. We’re not getting carried away with ourselves. It’s a lot of hard work ahead of us for the rest of the season.”
Luton were thumped by Burley on the opening night of the season, in perhaps a precursor to campaigns that both sides have had. Last term they were rivals in the Premier League, but Town finished above the Clarets, though they both suffered relegation.
Both teams were expected to challenge for a route back to the top flight, but Luton have fallen far below expectations, while Burnley have built their season on a miserly defence which was finally penetrated after 12 consecutive clean sheets at Cardiff in midweek.
After Scott Parker’s side, Luton will travel to the Welsh capital on Tuesday in what could be a huge six-pointer as the Bluebirds are currently the team Town have to catch to get clear of the Championship relegation zone.
“It’s the it’s the paradox isn’t it? It’s the parallels. If we’d have lost, how tough was that game going to be?” said Bloomfield of the Portsmouth triumph, but added: “There’s loads to do and we’re not getting carried away. But it gives us a spring in our step.
“Burnley away and Cardiff away before we welcome Middlesbrough back here [Kenilworth Road], it’s going to be a tough week but we want to get some more points on the board. We believe we can.
“We’ve got some very good footballers and winning’s a habit. We want to get back in the habit and we want to get back with the belief. And hopefully [Saturday] can be a big day for them.”
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